Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Columbia vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Columbia | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
5,300 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Highest 20% below U.S. |
$966±$304 32% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Columbia School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.